Four days have passed since the team Hollinger Racing Juncos announced that Agustín Canapino I wasn’t going to race at Road Americaon the seventh date of the IndyCar. In its statement, the team based in Indianapolis He explained his reasons, but some issues were not clear, such as why make the driver go to the circuit and tell him that he was not going to participate an hour before the first practice. The increasingly prolonged silence only increases the doubts.
The more time passes, the greater the uncertainty. Among the questions is why they made him go to Canapino to the speedway located in Elkhart Lake, Wisconsin. Agustín even signed autographs with a grim look on his face, as if knowing that something bad was going to happen. The anger of the multiple Argentine champion was clear and he, along with his partner, Josefina Di Palma, returned to the house where they live in Indianapolis.
The team’s excuse was that Agustín did not run to protect him from the emotional charge unleashed in the week on social networks by the fans’ clashes in favor of the Argentine against Theo Pourchairewho played it on the previous date played on the Detroit urban layout.
However, among many points in favor that Agustín has is your mental factor. He had to define and win TC championships in which he started from behind, like his epic work in the last race of 2017, in which he advanced on a circuit that was stuck and difficult to overcome like the Autodromo Roberto José Mouras de La Plata and was champion by 0.25 points about Facundo Ardusso.
Or when he went out to fight for the TC 2000 crown within hours of the death of his father, Alberto (one of the best chassis drivers in Argentina), in February 2021.
If we wanted to help Canapino, the best thing would have been to allow him to do what he does best, run and turn the page.. Being down in the car this weekend must have been very painful for the Reef Titan.
Infobae communicated between Friday and Saturday with Ricardo Juncos who responded, but said he couldn’t speak because he was very busy with the activity at Road America, which was understandable. He tried to reach him this Monday and Tuesday, but there was no response.
One of the most and best informed journalists in the world of IndyCar It’s Marshall Pruett. In an article signed by him and published on the portal Racer, suggests that Canapino’s future is in doubt. “Co-owner Brad Hollinger made a significant investment in Juncos Racing to give the Juncos Hollinger Racing program significant funding to reestablish itself over several years, but the team has struggled to secure the annual operating budget it needs to operate. Although Hollinger’s passion for the sport and the infusion of money has kept JHR going, revenue needs to be generated for the program to function properly. His association with Juncos has never consisted of paying everything for the simple fact of participating.”
He then argued that “it also makes the timing of the problems with Canapino one in which any new opportunity to attract funds cannot be ignored. Without the actions and events that occurred since Detroit, there was no question about whether Canapino would finish the season. Even with the cars mostly naked under the JHR awning, Canapino was not at risk of being replaced at any point in 2024. The same cannot be said today”.
In this note, Pruett also points to the push of Mark Siegelfather of Nolan, who replaced Canapino at Road America. The young American finished 23rd in the Dallara-Chevolet. Mark contributed the budget for the entire sports campaign of his 19-year-old son, who was on the Road America circuit because he races on the Indy NXTthe category leading up to IndyCar where he races for the HMD Motorsports team.
On the budget issue, Infobae announced on Thursday, June 6, that the need to obtain new sponsors They could be a condition for the continuity of Canapino and that information is in line with what Pruett states, although, of course, the latest episodes complicate the picture more.
“We have sponsors and we were announcing, but what comes in is not enough. We continue uphill and the team owners invest. That is why it is very important to continue generating important investments because A team without financial solvency is impossible for it to function for a long time.. We have sponsors, but they are all boys“Juncos acknowledged to this medium.
After the controversy over the touch of Pourchaire to CanapinoAgustín broke out in a radio communication with Reeds: “This idiot misaligned my entire car.”. Immediately, the team-manager told him “I know, idiot, the son of a thousand whores, sorete, he jumped from 400 meters”. Canapino finished in 12th place, the best result of the year. While the Frenchman assured that he was threatened with death on social networks. It is worth remembering that last Thursday the Hollinger Racing Juncos and Arrow McLarenPourchaire team, announced the breakup of their strategic commercial alliance.
This Monday there was a meeting at the team base. There they saw each other’s faces again Juncos, Hollinger and Canapino. News was expected this Tuesday and the lack of response continues.
The hours continue to pass and the outlook remains uncertain. Why did they make Canapino go to Road America? Why turn it down an hour before going out on the track? Did they lower it to protect it or because of some budgetary problem? Who made the decision, Juncos, Hollinger, or both? What is the position of the category? Why so much silence? Will Canapino race on the next date in Laguna Seca on June 23? Does Agustín want to continue? These are all questions that are still waiting for answers.
